If you’re planning a Christmas market trip to Germany, you’ve likely Googled “which German Christmas market is the best”…in which case, you’ve probably seen countless websites mention Nuremberg. But why is it so good? What makes it so special? If we haven’t met, I’m Gina, and I’ve had a constant love affair with European Christmas markets since 2023. In this blog post, I’ll tell you about my experience at the Nuremberg Christmas market, what makes it special, and whether I personally think it’s the best Christmas market in Germany at the end.
You get a trip on the calendar; I get to keep calling my travel obsession “work.” Everybody wins. 😉
I’ll be honest with you: I had never even heard of Nuremberg until I started researching what the best Christmas market in Germany was and saw this city popping up everywhere. With a reputation like that, how could I resist? Safe to say, the bar was set! I gathered my hat, scarf, coat, and high expectations and started planning my trip. The only thing left to do was see whether it lived up to the hype…
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Why Are the Nuremberg Christmas Markets Considered “the Best in Germany?”
The Nuremberg Christmas markets are widely considered the best because they are among the oldest and most traditional Christmas markets in Germany. Nuremberg is nicknamed “the little city of wood and cloth,” and the market is filled with craftsmanship that reflects that tradition. Many of the vendors working here had made the items they were selling, and you could tell how proud they were of what they created.
Rows of wooden stalls with red-and-white striped roofs filled the market square, and their shelves were lined with handmade ornaments, miniature Christmas villages, and customary German toys. The whole scene felt cozy and nostalgic and transported me right back to memories of Christmas as a child. It was the kind of place that makes you want to wrap your hands around a warm mug of glühwein and take your time exploring.
- Pro Tip: I felt like a lot of the souvenirs were more expensive here than at some of the other markets. I suppose that’s the price you pay for tradition…
When I came to Nuremberg, I had already been to 2 other German Christmas markets in Munich and Cologne. Maybe I needed those other experiences to appreciate the difference, but after I arrived in Nuremberg, it didn’t take me long at all to understand why people said this was a more traditional market. In fact, I would advise seeing Christmas markets in multiple German cities so you can see and understand the difference.
Exploring The Main Christmas Market in Nuremberg
The main Christmas market in Nuremberg the “Christkindlesmarkt,” or Christ Child’s Market. It is based around the idea that the Christkind brings the children their gifts on Christmas morning. These days, a local girl between the ages of 16-19 gets chosen each year to play the Christkind, and must fulfill her Christmas market duties for 2 years – including giving the Prologue that opens the market!
Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt is located in Hauptmarkt, the central square in old town. If you take the Deutsche Bahn train into the city, Hauptmarkt is only about a 10 minute walk from the station. There will also be smaller markets down some of the side streets.
You already got a crash course in the traditional vibe of this market and the types of souvenirs to expect, so I’ll spend the rest of this section pointing out some other things to see and do here.
Things to See and Try at the
Nuremberg Christmas Markets
- The Nuremberger – The famous Nuremberg sandwich made up of 3 mini bratwurst sausage links on a sandwich roll.
- Lebkuchen – Nuremberg is especially famous for its lebkuchen, aka gingerbread.
- Candies and chocolate truffles with more unique flavors than ones I saw at the other markets.
- Spekulatius almond cookies – shortcrust cookies typically spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and white pepper
- Feuerzangenbowle – A red wine and rum punch with a special and unique flavor
- Traditional market gifts and stalls – Nutcrackers, wooden toys, gingerbread, chocolates, ornaments…they are all what you envision when you think Christmas in Germany.
The Frauenkirche
One of my favorite things about this market was the Frauenkirche, the ornate Gothic church that provided a beautiful backdrop to the rows of Christmas stalls. Many holiday markets are set in front of magnificent buildings or churches like this one, but something about the Frauenkirche only added to this market’s cozy, small-town Christmas vibes. Make sure to notice the red and white striped roofs that I mentioned in the photo below:
The Schöner Brunnen
Near the Frauenkirche is the Schöner Brunnen, which literally translates into “beautiful fountain.” The Schöner Brunnen is shaped like a Gothic spire, with four tiers adorned with 40 stone figures depicting biblical characters, church figures, philosophers, and secular leaders. As you can see, there is a fence surrounding it, making it difficult to see up close. But if you look REALLY close, you’ll find 2 small rings worked into the ironwork – one that’s gold-colored brass, and one that’s made of black iron.
According to local legend, turning the gold ring brings good luck and grants wishes, so naturally, I had to give it a try. I’m not going to tell you what I wished for, but I will tell you that so far it hasn’t come true. SO – I don’t know. Maybe wish upon a star instead 😉.
My Honest Take on Nuremberg’s Famous Food
Of course, I had to try the famous Nuremberger for myself. I’m going to be so honest with you: the sausages were good, but my bun was hard and tasted stale. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I tried it. But I’m also gonna tell you I stopped at ALEX, a nearby restaurant, and got more food later.
As for the lebkuchen, don’t expect it to taste exactly like the gingerbread you grew up eating in America. I’m partial to my mom’s homemade version, but I didn’t necessarily dislike the gingerbread here. It’s just hard to compete with childhood Christmas memories!
Regardless, trying the local specialties is part of the experience, and I encourage you to try both foods, along with anything else you find appealing. You might just find yourself bringing some treats home!
Visiting Some of the Smaller Christmas Markets in Nuremberg
While the main market in Nuremberg is definitely the highlight, you may be wanting a break from all the Christmas chaos. If so, this is a great opportunity to see some of the smaller markets down the side streets. On Hans-Sachs-Platz there’s a Children’s Christmas market, where kids can bake cookies, paint glass, write their Christmas wish list for the Christkind or take a ride on the carousel or Ferris wheel. There’s also the Sister Cities market, located on Rathausplatz (north of the main market), where vendors from different cities come and set up their Christmas stalls. Proceeds from all hand-made Christmas decorations go to charitable organizations in these cities.
Planning Your Trip to the Nuremberg Christmas Markets
What Are the 2026 Dates for the Nuremberg Christmas Market?
This year, the Nuremberg Christmas markets are open from November 27 – December 24, 2026. The hours of operation for most stalls are 10:00am to 9:00pm, except on Christmas Eve, the markets will close at 2:00pm. When planning your visit, keep in mind that the markets will be the most crowded on weekends, evenings, opening day, and Christmas Eve.
As luck would have it, the day I planned to go to Nuremberg just happened to be the opening day of the city’s Christmas market AND a Friday. Probably not the best idea to experience something world famous this way. There were times that it was so crowded I could barely move. I’m talking New-York-City-at-Christmastime crowded. You’re probably asking yourself, “what were you thinking?” – and, well, I wasn’t. That’s the only answer I have. The photo below shows the crowd on my walk from the train station to the main market:
I know. It was insane. But listen…once you got into the rows of markets, the crowds dissipated, and it was much easier to walk through. It was getting to the rows of market stalls that was the hard part. Trust the process!
The Best Way to Get to the Nuremberg Christmas Markets
When I visited Nuremberg, I took a day trip from Munich by train and spent the evening wandering through Nuremberg’s Christmas markets. If you don’t want to spend the night in Nuremberg and would rather stay in a larger city, this is a great option. Plus, you’re able to see Munich’s Christmas markets along with Nuremberg’s. Win-win!
If you’re flying in to visit Nuremberg, Munich is the closest major international airport. You can stay there and visit Nuremberg for the day, like I did, or take the train directly to Nuremberg and use it as your base. You can also fly directly into Nuremberg, although its airport is smaller and may have fewer flight options than Munich’s, depending on where you’re traveling from.
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My Honest Opinion: Are The Nuremberg Christmas Markets Really The Best in Germany?
Despite the crowds, the chaos, and the stale bun on my Nuremberger sandwich, I still loved the Nuremberg Christmas markets. They reminded me of my childhood, when everything was truly magical. I felt the same excitement I remembered from Christmas as a little kid, but the adult me also knew how incredibly blessed I was to even be here. If it makes sense with your itinerary, you should absolutely put these markets on your list.
If I’m being completely honest with you, my favorite German Christmas markets that I’ve seen so far are the ones in Cologne (and if you want to know why, read Are The Christmas Markets in Cologne, Germany Worth Visiting?). But I can absolutely see why some people consider Nuremberg’s to be the best. If you want to compare some other markets, check out my post about comparing some of Germany’s best Christmas market cities here. Ultimately, I still consider Nuremberg one of the top European cities to visit during Christmastime because of its traditional markets and cozy, nostalgic atmosphere.
As always, the best Christmas markets are the ones where you make your favorite memories. Bring your family, someone you love, or go solo like I did. However you choose to experience them, you’re sure to leave with a little Christmas magic of your own.
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Good Morning I found your post very informative. I am planning a trip to the markets this year I am 66 and will be traveling alone. I live in South Africa where we do not get the extremely cold weather.what are the essential items that will keep me warm and able to enjoy the trip also don’t want to slip on the ice or snow. Thanks for you help
Verity van Wyk
Hi Verity! I would make sure to take some really warm snow boots, a hat, gloves, scarf, and a long coat. If you don’t have a longer coat, you can buy one in Europe…that’s what I did this past year! It kept my entire body really warm. I hope you have a great trip! -Gina